Primary Retroperitoneal Paraganglioma Simulating a Pancreatic Mass: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Paragangliomas are extra-adrenal tumors of the autonomic nervous system and may be found within the skull base, neck, chest, and abdomen. When presenting within the abdominal cavity, they may arise as a primary retroperitoneal neoplasm and can mimic vascular malformations or other conditions related to specific retroperitoneal organs such as the pancreas, kidneys, or adrenals. Retroperitoneal paragangliomas are mostly benign with good prognosis; however, they can present with abdominal pain, palpable mass, or hypertensive episodes. Patients should be initially evaluated with catecholamine levels, followed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging to locate the primary lesion. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment, although advanced disease and proximity to vital organs can make excision difficult or impossible. This case report describes a patient who initially underwent work up for a suspected pancreatic head mass which was discovered to be a retroperitoneal paraganglioma by frozen section

Radiologic Evaluation of the Llullaillaco Mummies

OBJECTIVE. Our purpose was to determine the imaging findings in three 500-year-old frozen mummies of sacrificial Inca children. MATERIALS AND METHODS. CT, conventional radiography, and dental radiography of Inca mummies were reviewed. Different techniques, which were adjusted to the anatomic position of the bodies, were used for radiologic analyses. Working sessions were limited to 20 min because of the fragility of these mummies and to prevent thawing of the specimens. RESULTS. Internal organs in good condition with a natural shrinkage caused by dehydration were shown on CT scans. Both white and gray matter were clearly observed in the brain and cerebellum. The white matter and the fatty tissue of the bodies were visibly white. This condition was possibly caused by the transformation of the fatty tissue into a waxlike substance and the deposition of calcium salts. The lungs were expanded in all three mummies. The ages of the three children at the time of their deaths were estimated by means of radiographs of the teeth and long bones. Bone mineralization, the muscular volume, and the thickness of the adipose panniculus indicated the good nutritional state of the three Inca children. The spleen was not visualized in any case. CONCLUSION. Radiology helped us determine the state of the internal organs, the nutritional conditions, and the physical abnormalities of the naturally mummified children. These mummies can be considered among the best preserved mummies currently known.Fil: Previgliano, Carlos H.. Universidad Católica de Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones de Alta Montaña; ArgentinaFil: Ceruti, Maria Constanza. Universidad Católica de Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones de Alta Montaña; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; ArgentinaFil: Reinhard, Johan. Universidad Católica de Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones de Alta Montaña; ArgentinaFil: Arias Araoz, Facundo. Universidad Católica de Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones de Alta Montaña; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez Diez, Josefina. Universidad Católica de Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones de Alta Montaña; Argentin